History of Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market is based in Austin, Texas and they provide food that is “natural” and “organic” in nature. The business started in 1978 when 25 year old John Mackey and his girl friend Rene Lawson borrowed $45,000 from family and friends to open a small natural foods store called Safer Way.  John Mackey partnered with Craig Weller and Mark Skiles to merge Safer Way with their Clarksville Natural Grocery, resulting in the opening of the original Whole Foods Market on September 20, 1980.

Today the store is ranked as most socially responsible businesses and placed third on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of Top 25 Green Power Partners.

Job description/Average wage

Team Member: A team member works the floor making sure that the merchandise is always fresh and the shelves are kept packed full. They must unload trucks and price the merchandise before it is presented to the general public. The team member often works on the floor while customers are shopping so they are expected to be able to help the customer find merchandise. They must be friendly and outgoing with the customers. The average wage for a team leader is $10.00 an hour.

Prepared Foods: As a prepared foods team member, you’re going to help with preparing many foods according to the Whole Foods standard.  You’re going to help with everything from chicken to salads and more.  You will also help with opening the kitchen, prepping ingredients, as well as assisting customers.  The average wage is anyhwere from $10 to $13 a hour.

Cashier: The cashier maintains the cash register checking out the customers making sure that the customer has found everything that they needed. They must place the merchandise in the cart for the customer after they have bagged it. When the process is completed then they must charge the customer for the total of the sales, taking, cash, credit, or a debit card for the payment. At the end of the shift the cashier must make sure that their cash drawer is in balance. The average wage for the cashier is $8.00 an hour.

Customer Service: As a customer service rep, you’re going to help customers with their returns, transactions issues, as well as help with other various activities such as money orders, lottery tickets and more.  You may also help with many various other activities such as assisting the customer.  The average wage is anywhere from $8 to $13 a hour.

Team Leader: The team leader must make sure that his team works efficiently, has the required merchandise to put on the shelves. The team leader often helps the customer find the merchandise or will order for them if they are requesting special products. The team leader usually does the scheduling of the employees. The average wage for the team leader is $20.00 an hour.

Benefits

  • Medical Care along with a personal wellness account, dental plan, vision plan and a personal care reimbursement account.
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • 401 (k) retirement savings
  • Team Member Discount
  • Paid time off, leaves of absents
  • Gain sharing, banking and other benefits
  • Stock Member Stock Purchase Plan, Stock Option Plan
  • Team Member Emergency Funds

How to apply

You can apply for a job on Whole Food’s career page at http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/careers/ or if you wish to apply in store, you can request an application there.